两种方法检测促甲状腺受体抗体的比对研究

目的 探讨不同免疫分析系统检测促甲状腺受体抗体(TRAb)结果的可比性,以评估国产新产业化学发光法检测TRAb能否满足临床需求.方法 分别用新产业化学发光免疫分析(CLIA)仪和罗氏电化学发光免疫分析(ECLIA)仪测定TRAb,依据美国国家临床实验室标准化协会(NCCLS)EP9-A2文件,将ECLIA法作为参比方法,以CLIA法为试验方法,进行方法学比对试验.并应用Bland-Altman分析法评估其一致性.结果 定性判断CLIA法检测假阳性率、假阴性率和总符合率分别为0、11.8%和95%,Kappa值为0.896;两种方法定量检测TRAb结果差异无统计学意义,P=0.55,并在0~30IU/L具有较好的线性相关性, 其相关系数r=0.98, Passing-Bablock回归方程为Y=-0.04+1.06 X,截距A的系统差异95% CI为-0.16~0.09 ,斜率B的比例差异95% CI为0.97~1.12,线性度无明显偏差 (P=0.38),且Bland-Altman差异图显示,配对数据差值的平均值为-0.3IU/L,95%一致性界限为-3.9IU/L、4.5IU/L,在临床上可以接受.结论 国产新产业化学发光免疫分析(CLIA)仪TRAb检测结果可以满足临床需求.     

健康孕妇不同孕期血清中CEA,CA125,CA153,CA199含量水平调查分析

目的了解深圳地区健康孕妇不同孕期血清中癌胚抗原(carcinoembryonicantigen,CEA),糖类抗原125(carbohydrate antigen 125,CA125),糖类抗原153(carbohydrate antigen 153,CA153)和糖类抗原199(carbohydrate antigen 199,CA199)水平情况,为不同期孕妇孕检提供科学依据。方法选取2016年1月~2017年8月来深圳市宝安区人民医院进行孕早期检查的孕妇108例为研究组,并选择同期来院健康体检的正常育龄妇女120例为对照组,分别采用DXI800化学发光法检测研究组孕早期、孕中期、孕晚期和产后3个月孕妇及对照组血清中CEA,CA125,CA153和CA199浓度,并对检测结果进行统计分析,比较各组间各指标浓度之间是否存在差异性。结果孕早期、孕中期、孕晚期和产后3个月孕妇血清中CEA,CA125和CA199浓度之间差异无统计学意义(t=0.294~0.531,P0.05),孕早期和产后3个月孕妇血清中CA153浓度之间差异无统计学意义(t=1.203,P0.05),而孕晚期孕妇血清中CA153浓度为77.19±20.56U/ml,明显高于其它孕期组,差异有统计学意义(t=5.954~27.165,P0.01~0.05)。对照组血清中CEA,CA125和CA199浓度分别为2.63±0.90ng/ml,22.06±6.18U/ml和17.15±5.56U/ml,与不同孕期孕妇比较,差异均无统计学意义(t=0.352~0.606,P0.05),CA153浓度为20.82±8.57U/ml,与孕早期和产后3个月孕妇比较,差异无统计学意义(t=0.218~0.926,P0.05),但明显低于孕中期和孕晚期,差异有统计学意义(t=5.817~26.325,P0.01~0.05)。结论孕中期和孕晚期孕妇血清中CA153浓度明显升高,应引起临床注意,减少对孕妇一些不必要的检查和适当解释缓解孕妇心理压力,对孕妇和胎儿的健康均具有重要的意义。     

联合应用DCE-MRI和~(18)F-FDG PET/CT监测~(125)I粒子短距离放疗对胰腺癌移植瘤的疗效

目的:评估动态对比增强磁共振(DCE-MRI)和通过~(18)Fluorine-fluorinedeoxyglucose作为示踪剂的正电子发射型体层摄影术-X线计算机体层摄影图像融合(~(18)F-FDG PET/CT)监测~(125)I粒子短距离放疗对胰腺癌移植瘤的疗效。方法:16只胰腺癌裸小鼠被随机分为~(125)I粒子植入组(n=8)和空载粒子组(n=8)。于治疗前及治疗后第10天分别进行DCE-MRI和~(18)F-FDG PET/CT检查。DCE-MRI灌注成像参数包括容量转移常数(Ktrans)、速率常数(Kep)、血管外细胞外间隙容积比(Ve)。~(18)F-FDG PET/CT测量最大标准摄取值(SUVmax)和平均标准摄取值(SUVmean)。结果:~(125)I粒子植入组与对照组相比,Ktrans、Kep、SUVmax和SUVmean均明显降低(P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.003,P=0.001)。DCE-MRI灌注参数与标准化FDG摄取值之间不存在相关性。结论:DCE-MRI和~(18)F-FDG PET/CT监测~(125)I粒子短距离放疗对胰腺癌移植瘤的疗效是可行的。肿瘤血流动力学改变及糖代谢之间可能是相对独立因素,两种成像方法提供互补信息。     

初步探讨三种腹水/血清肿瘤标志物对腹膜假粘液瘤的诊断价值

目的初步探讨腹水CEA/血清CEA、腹水CA19-9/血清CA19-9、腹水CA125/血清CA125、血清CEA、血清CA19-9和血清CA125对腹膜假黏液瘤的诊断价值。方法研究对象包括102例经病理确诊的腹膜假黏液瘤患者,46例由腹部其他疾病产生腹水的患者,作为疾病对照组。应用化学发光法测定上述两组腹水和血清的CEA、CA19-9和CA125,分析两组上述肿瘤标志物的差异有无统计学意义。进一步把腹膜假黏液瘤组分为高级别组(n=35)和低级别组(n=67),比较组间肿瘤标志物水平,P<0.05认为差异有统计学意义。结果腹膜假黏液瘤病例组和疾病对照组中腹水CEA/血清CEA、腹水CA19-9/血清CA19-9、腹水CA125/血清CA125、血清CEA、血清CA19-9、血清CA125水平分别为[115.05(41.99,292.25)vs.0.60(0.25,2.25),Z=-8.502,P=0.001]、[14.23(4.33,37.67)vs.1(0.50,1.72),Z=-7.030,P=0.001]、[7.38(3.64,11.92)vs.2.26(1.36,4.37),Z=-5.309,P=0.001]、[39.75(11.70,114.89)vs.3.54(1.44,6.53),Z=-6.869,P=0.001]、[84.72(22.39,420.93)vs.12.71(2.45,65.24),Z=-3.749,P=0.001]、[64.40(29.85,142.85)vs.379.75(151.88,620.02),Z=-6.463,P=0.001],病例组中腹水CEA/血清CEA、腹水CA19-9/血清CA19-9、腹水CA125/血清CA125、血清CEA、血清CA19-9的水平比对照组高,ROC曲线下面积分别为0.937,0.861,0.773,0.853,0.693,其灵敏度分别是87.0%、89.1%、69.6%、80.4%和63.0%,特异性分别为97.1%、77.5%、79.4%、84.3%和75.5%。而病例组中血清CA125水平比对照组低,ROC曲线下面积是0.832,灵敏度是76.1%,特异性是77.4%。腹膜假黏液瘤组中高级别组与低级别组腹水CEA/血清CEA差异具有统计学意义,p<0.05,其余肿瘤标志物差异没有统计学意义。结论在上述6种检测中对腹膜假黏液瘤的诊断价值最大的是腹水CEA/血清CEA。腹水CEA/血清CEA对区别高、低级别的腹膜假黏液瘤具有一定价值。     

两种糖化血红蛋白分析方法的一致性评价

目的 对比免疫荧光法和胶乳免疫比浊法检测糖化血红蛋白结果的一致性。方法 随机收集2021年10月1日至2021年10月29日来我院健康体检人员的新鲜抗凝全血标本435例,用两种检测系统分别进行检测。采用SPSS 25.0、Medcalc V19.0.4软件对两组结果进行分析比对,用线性回归和Bland-Altman分析方法评估结果的相关性和一致性。结果 对照系统与考核系统的检测结果频数峰值结果相差不大;系统间的决定系数R²=0.850,两系统检测结果之间具有显著的相关性;回归方程为Y=0.955X+0.525,P<0.05,具有显著的线性关系。Bland-Altman一致性分析结果界外点数18个,占4.14%。结论 通过分析比对,两种检测系统对糖化血红蛋白的检测具有良好的一致性,均可满足临床检测需求。     

血清CA125检测在肝癌腹水中的诊断价值

目的探讨定量检测血清肿瘤标志物CA125在原发性肝细胞肝癌患者早期腹水中临床意义,评价CA125作为肝癌腹水诊断的实验室指标价值。方法采用回顾性分析研究,对云南省肿瘤医院介入科2013年7月到2014年1月共计111例原发性肝细胞肝癌患者,对照组为我院健康体检者23例,采用全自动化学发光检测血清CA125,并同时采用腹部CT及B超诊断患者腹水。对32例肝癌患者进行2次以上跟踪检测血清CA125。对血清CA125与肝储备功能child-pugh分级进行比较两者的相关性。数据统计处理采用spss17.0版统计分析软件。各组间CA125值差异性比较采用MannWhitney U检验;阳性率用χ2检验比较;各组间CA125值与child分级的相关性用Spearman等级相关性分析。结果肝癌腹水组CA125结果为287.33U/mL,肝癌无腹水组CA125结果 37.15 U/mL,健康对照组为15.96U/mL,各组之间CA125水平比较P〈0.01,提示有显著性差异;肝癌腹水组CA125阳性率为88.6%,肝癌无腹水CA125阳性率37.31%,健康对照组阳性率7.69%,各组之间CA125阳性率比较χ2=49.685,P〈0.01,有显著性差异;32例跟踪检查患者中,无腹水稳定组有12例,CA125为29.56 U/mL;无腹水进展组有15例,CA125为168.35 U/mL;腹水组有5例,CA125结果为187.00U/mL,进展组血清CA125与稳定组比较P〈0.01,差异具有统计学意义,进展组与腹水组比较P〈0.05,差异具有统计学意义;CA125与child-pugh-分级相关性研究,其中child-A有83例,CA125结果为57.17 U/mL;child-B有18例,CA125结果为268.14 U/mL;child-C有10例,CA125为581.05 U/mL,血清CA125与child-pugh分级的相关性系数r=0.665,P〈0.01,提示2者之间有显著性相关。结论血清CA125可作为诊断肝癌并发腹水的实验室检查方法;血清CA125与child-pugh分级密切相关。     

PCR与膜芯片分型法检测女性生殖道HPV结果比较分析

目的分析荧光探针PCR与膜芯片分型技术两种方法检测女性生殖道人乳头状瘤病毒(HPV)的结果,对两种方法进行临床应用评价。方法随机收取2015年01月~11月来本院门诊就诊的女性患者1062例,利用荧光探针PCR定性检测14种常见的高危型HPV病毒(包括HPV16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,68,66),并对其中的HPV16和HPV18型进行分型检测,同时用膜芯片分型技术检测23种HPV型,包括上述14种常见高危HPV外,还包括4种高危型(HPV53,73,82,83)和5种低危型HPV病毒(HPV6,11,42,43,81),并对两种方法检测的结果进行对比分析。结果荧光探针PCR定性检测HPV的阳性率为12.90%(137/1062),膜芯片分型技术检测HPV阳性率19.68%(209/1062),阳性率明显高于探针PCR法,两者阳性率之间差异有统计学意义(χ~2=15.627,P0.05);但两种方法检测14种常见的高危型HPV(HPV16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,68,66)病毒阳性率之间差异无统计学意义(χ~2=1.063,P0.05),总符合率为91.15%(968/1062),阳性符合率为91.97%(126/137),阴性符合率为91.03%(842/925),两者检测结果具有较好的一致性。结论荧光探针PCR与膜芯片分型技术检测常见的14种高危型HPV的结果具有良好的一致性,阳性率之间差异无统计学意义,但膜芯片分型技术检测HPV的基因型数比荧光探针PCR要多,检出HPV阳性率要高,更适合女性大规模健康体检。     

CA125在子宫内膜癌组织中的表达及与ER和PR的相关性研究

目的探讨CA125在子宫内膜癌组织中的表达及与雌激素受体(ER)、孕激素受体(PR)的相关性,阐明CA125在子宫内膜癌病情进展中的作用。方法随机选取经病理确诊为子宫内膜癌组织60例,采用免疫组化Envision二步法检测组织CA125的表达,分析其与患者临床分级、组织学分级、肿瘤浸润程度和淋巴结转移等情况的关系,并根据CA125免疫组化结果将其分为阳性组和阴性组,分析CA125的表达与ER、PR的关系。结果 CA125在子宫内膜癌组织的阳性表达为75.00%(45/60),并随着肿瘤浸润深度的增加而表达增强(2值=9.32,P=0.001),在子宫内膜癌临床分期Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期,组织学分级Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅲ级中差异均存在统计学意义(P0.05),但与淋巴结转移与否差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。在45例CA125表达阳性组中,ER阳性率为80.0%,PR阳性率为71.11%,而在15例CA125表达阴性组中,ER阳性率为26.67%,PR阳性率为40.00%,CA125的表达与ER、PR密切相关。结论子宫内膜癌组织中存在CA125高表达,并与肿瘤的恶性生物学行为密切相关,同时与组织ER、PR的表达密切相关,对指导临床治疗和判断预后均具有重要的临床价值。     

甲亢突眼患者的视觉诱发电位检测分析

目的:总结分析甲亢突眼患者视觉诱发电位的检测结果及诊疗意义。方法:选取2015年11月至2016年4月上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院收治的125例甲亢突眼患者,进行棋盘翻转模式刺激视觉诱发电位检测,并对检测结果进行总结评价。结果:60.0%(75/125例)的患者形态异常或潜伏期异常,其中形态异常42.4%(53/125例),潜伏期异常17.6%(22/125例)。男性患者与女性患者视觉诱发电位的异常率比较差异具有统计学意义(62.7%比58.1%,χ~2=8.662,P=0.0132),且男性患者的潜伏期异常率更高(P<0.05)。不同年龄段患者视觉诱发电位的异常率比较差异同样存在统计学意义(64.0%比18.2%,χ~2=10.392,P=0.0055)。结论:不同性别、不同年龄阶段患者的视觉诱发电位具有不同的特点,男性患者的潜伏期异常率显著高于女性患者,大于等于35岁患者视觉诱发电位异常率显著高于小于35岁患者。     

血浆miRNA-200b 及miRNA-21 在上皮性卵巢癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨血浆微小核糖核酸-200b(miRNA-200b)及微小核糖核酸-21(miRNA-21)在上皮性卵巢癌(EOC)中的表达及其临床意义。方法:采用RT-PCR 检测162 例EOC 患者、120 例上皮性卵巢良性肿瘤患者(良性组)和108 例健康女性(对照组)血浆miRNA-200b、miRNA-21 及CA125 表达水平,分析miRNA-200b 及miRNA-21 表达水平与EOC 临床病理特征的关系。应用ROC 曲线评价miRNA-200b、miRNA-21 及CA125 对EOC 诊断的灵敏度和特异度,多元Logistic 回归模型分析三项指标与EOC 的关系。Pearson 相关分析EOC 患者血浆miRNA-200b 与miRNA-21、CA125 的相关性。结果:EOC 组血浆miRNA-200b、miRNA-21 及CA125 表达水平均明显高于良性组和对照组[miRNA-200b(2- Ct ):3.52±1.03 vs 1.26±0.37 和1.15±0.34;miRNA-21(2- Ct):2.32±0.45 vs 1.18±0.32 和1.04±0.28;CA125(U/ ml):78.64±30.57 vs 26.27±11.36 和21.53±9.45,均P <0.01]。血浆miRNA-200b、miRNA-21、CA125 及三项联合诊断EOC 的AUC(95% CI) 分别为0.896(0.834 ~0.958)、0.792(0.731 ~0.847)、0.908(0.841 ~ 0.973)、0.947(0.883 ~ 0.995),其最佳截值分别为2.08、1.46、52.84 U/ ml。Logistic 回归分析显示,血浆miRNA-200b、miRNA-21 及CA125 水平升高是EOC 发生的独立危险因素[OR(95% CI)= 2.518(1.563 ~3.547),OR(95%CI)= 1.724(1.103 ~ 2.528),OR(95% CI)= 2.316(1.347 ~ 3.419)]。EOC 患者血浆miRNA-200b与CA125 的相关性最好(r =0.702,P<0.01)。结论:血浆miRNA-200b 及miRNA-21 可作为早期诊断EOC 的分子标志物,其诊断效能与CA125 相当,三项联合应用有望提高EOC 早期诊断的准确性。     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.     

Guidelines for the Validation and Use of Immunoassays for Determination of Introduced Proteins in Biotechnology Enhanced Crops and Derived Food Ingredients

Recent advancements in agricultural biotechnology have created a need for analytical techniques to determine introduced proteins in crops enhanced through modern biotechnology techniques. These proteins are expressed in plant tissues and may be present in food ingredients. Immunoassays are ideally suited for protein detection and may be used as both quantitative and threshold methods. Microplate ELISA and lateral flow devices are two of the most commonly used immunoassay formats for agricultural biotechnology applications. This paper provides general background information and a discussion of criteria for the validation and application of immunochemical methods to the analysis of proteins introduced into plants and food ingredients using biotechnology methods. It is the result of a collaborative effort of members of the Analytical Environmental Immunochemical Consortium. This collaborative effort represents the combined expertise of several organizations to reach consensus on establishing guidelines for the validation and use of immunoassays. Further, the paper offers developers and users a consistent approach to adopting the technology as well as aid in producing accurate and meaningful results.     

HLA in North Colombia Chimila Amerindians

HLA-A,-B,-C,-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles have been studied in Chimila Amerindians from Sabana de San Angel (North Colombian Coast) by using high resolution molecular typing. A frequent extended haplotype was found:HLA-A*24:02-B*51:10-C*15:02-BRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02 (28.7%) which has also been described in Amerinndian Mayos Mexican population (Mexico, California Gulf, Pacific Ocean). Other haplotypes had already been found in Amerindians from Mexico (Pacific and Atlantic Coast), Peru (highlands and Amazon Basin), Bolivia and North USA. A geographic pattern according to HLA allele or haplotype frequencies is lacking in Amerindians, as already known. Also, five new extended haplotypes were found in Chimila Amerindians. Their HLA-A*24:02 high frequencies characteristic is shared with aboriginal populations of Taiwan; also, HLA-C*01:02 high frequencies are found in New Zealand Maoris, New Caledonians and Kimberly Aborigines from Australia. Finally, this study may show a model of evolutionary factors acting and rising one HLA allele frequency (-A*24:02), but not in others that belong to the same or different HLA loci.     

Ultracryotomy: development and application (with examples from the yeast cytology) (author's transl)

The preparation steps usually necessary for obtaining ultrathin frozen sections of biological material (chemical prefixation, enclosing, cryoprotective treatment, freezing, sectioning, and post-staining the sections for transmission electron microscopy) are submitted to a critical analysis. The application of cryo-ultramicrotomy, in particularly for cytochemical purposes, is reviewed. Fundamental considerations of chemical prefixation and poststaining are supported by examples from yeast cytology. Furthermore, the efficiency of the cryo-ultramicrotomy (electron optical resolution of ultrastructural details) is demonstrated on yeast cells and protoplasts.     

The universal muscular chamber. A basic unit of the genitourinary, cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, skeletal, cutaneous, respiratory and other systems, endocameral hypertension; and spasm, the key to their idiopathic diseases and arthropathies

Starting with the integument, we see many organs are contractile sacs or multiples thereof, which tubes or bags constitute the major part of the entire body. Recognition of this basic unit and its characteristics sheds new light, individually and collectively, on many disorders previously considered unrelated. Muscular tears and perforations develop in the walls of these chambers, being no way peculiar to those organs, wherein, hydrochloric acid occurs. So, it is not necessary to explain the absence of excessive acid from patients who exhibit holes in the gastric, uterine, aortic, duodenal, rectal, pulmonary, retina, and other walls. Muscle, not acid is the great common factor relating idiopathic disorders in the gastrointestinal tract to each other and to similar diseases in other systems. When the units are linked together, the lesions tend to appear as arthropathies, i.e. at the joints. Rephrasing common-place observations, frees us from conventional, conceptual cul-de-sacs. An observation is only as good as its interpretation, so all possibilities must be considered, otherwise, we will remain blinded by our misconceptions.